Tina Evangelista-Eppenstein is a TV Talk Show Host, Speaker, Writer, and Advocate who writes and speaks on a variety of important issues affecting animals on a local, national and international level. She has done interviews on tv, radio, in newspapers and also has given speeches. Creating awareness of these important topics is key to implementing action to help animals according to Tina. She also likes to inform people of organizations and people who help animals. Tina also delves into her own personal experiences with animals. If you have a topic or tip, please feel free to contact Tina at tevangelistaepp@yahoo.com

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It has been scientifically proven that dogs have emotions. Surprised?

It has finally been scientifically proven dogs have emotions like people. Dr. Gregory Berns, neuroscientist at Emory University, has used brain scans that show dogs have emotions.

In his study, Berns had dogs trained to be able to withstand being in a M.R.I tube. There are people who are claustrophobic and refuse to be scanned in this machine. With help, Berns not only managed to have dogs trained to adapt to the tube, he also placed earmuffs on them to block out the loud decibels during the scanning process.

Berns began to perform M.R.I’s on the dogs. Here are his findings in his own words:

“Rich in dopamine receptors, the caudate sits between the brainstem and the cortex. In humans, the caudate plays a key role in the anticipation of things we enjoy, like food, love and money. But can we flip this association around and infer what a person is thinking just by measuring caudate activity? Because of the overwhelming complexity of how different parts of the brain are connected to one another, it is not usually possible to pin a single cognitive function or emotion to a single brain region.

But the caudate may be an exception. Specific parts of the caudate stand out for their consistent activation to many things that humans enjoy. Caudate activation is so consistent that under the right circumstances, it can predict our preferences for food, music and even beauty.

In dogs, we found that activity in the caudate increased in response to hand signals indicating food. The caudate also activated to the smells of familiar humans. And in preliminary tests, it activated to the return of an owner who had momentarily stepped out of view. Do these findings prove that dogs love us? Not quite. But many of the same things that activate the human caudate, which are associated with positive emotions, also activate the dog caudate. Neuroscientists call this a functional homology, and it may be an indication of canine emotions.

The ability to experience positive emotions, like love and attachment, would mean that dogs have a level of sentience comparable to that of a human child. And this ability suggests a rethinking of how we treat dogs.”

In the following interview on CBS This Morning, Berns seems to contradict himself with his statement, “Do these findings prove that dogs love us? Not quite.” Oh yes, they do! You can see for yourself how he carried out his experiments.

Were these MRI scans necessary to prove what pet parents and animal advocates have always known? Of course not, but it sure helps to prove it to nonbelievers.

I don’t feel the findings apply only to dogs. Animals have emotions and feel pain. No test has ever been needed to prove how much my pets love me. I know it because I feel it in my soul as do so many other people. They may not talk but they do communicate with you. Through their communication, they share much about themselves. One of the most precious characteristics is their undying and unconditional love they feel toward those who love them.

Berns hopes his proof that “Dogs are people too” will help to change existing laws for our pets.

Imagine how this could change the world of puppy mills where dogs are treated as crops? Berns says laboratory dogs and dog racing would be banned for “violating the basic right of self-determination of a person” if dogs were granted rights of personhood. YES!!!

Maybe, these findings can be used for dogs’ rights based on these M.R.I. scans and treat man’s best friend as if he/she actually was a human best friend.

Dr. Burns is the author of “How Dogs Love Us: A Neuroscientist and His Adopted Dog Decode the Canine Brain” and is available this month.

12 thoughts on “It has been scientifically proven that dogs have emotions. Surprised?”

I agree no testing was needed to prove this theory. I think it could have positive consequences to help with animal rights. Instead of being treated so badly, this could help to significantly change the lives of so many caught in puppy mills and labs!! That would be great news!

I’ve always known my pets love me. They lay beside me when I’m hurting or sick, when they stare into my eyes with affection, when I come home from work and they’re beyond thrilled to see me, when they want to be with me all the time. Do I need any more proof? No. Of course animals have feelings. So do animals in factory farming. Imagine the pain they endure and no one gives a damn about them. We are horrible to these animals here in the US. That needs to change.

We can use this proof to show lawmakers that our pets are NOT property and treated as such. This should change laws! Puppy mills aren’t viewed upon the dogs having feelings or emotions but a crop to pump out money for their pimps.

Why can’t we use this to prove a dog is more than an animal without feeling and emotions to stop puppymills, racing, labs, dogfighting, etc? This is definitely a good case to bring so animals are treated way better than they are.